Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-07
NEW DESIGNS In FURNITURE.
Houses, as a Rule, are Furnished Once in Five
Years.
Y. Y. Mail and Express.

Y. Y Mail and Express.
Fashions in furniture change with as
much regularity though not with as much
frequency as the styles in hats and bon
nets. 1t is probable that if it were as
easy to discard an old suit of furniture
and procure new one as it is for those
who have the means to order a new
dress, our houses would never wear a fam
iliar or homelike look, for no sooner
would we become acquainted with the
vagaries of the chairs, bureaus and other
articles of furniture, and each angle and
proturbance be so we'll known that they
could be avoided in the dark, than we
would have to accustom ourselves to a
new arrang ement and map out new
chart. AS it is, fuit eff furniture which
five or six years ago held leading posi-
ton in fashionable circle is to day looked
upon as out of date. 1t requires about
five years for the accom- plishment of a
complete evolution in style. This, per-
haps, is very judicious arrangement,
for the young couple that have their
house newly furnished when they set out
together may have their home refurnish-
ed in the latest style when the fifth ami
versary, known as the wooden wedding,
is celebrated. What will they do when
the tenth anniversary arrives? By that
time they should have money enough to
refuruish their house if they wish to do
SO, or sense enough to care nothing for
the rules of fashion.
Five years ago about the only fashion
used In the manufacture OF furniture was
black walnut. Occasionally bedroom
suit in ash Or white wood was discovered,
but such an object attracted as much at
tentlon as the wearer of an India helmet
would in walk down Broadway. To-day
black walnut still holds place in society,
but it has been outranked by mahogany,
oak and cherry.
Bedroom suits made of dark, close
grained mahogany are the chief attrac-
ton in furniture salesrooms to-day, and
articles of furniture made Of this wood
command higher price than the same
designs made up ia .other fashionable
woods. There are many purchasers,
however, who prefer the honest, sturdy
looking oak, or the bright, parn-looking
cherry.
Mahogany was the most fashionable of
all woods about half century ago, and
no doubt there are slowed away in cellars
Or attics, or still doing service in the sec
ond or third generation, many bedstead,
bureau or parlor suit which is just suffi-
GENTLY antique to meet the prevailing de-
mand. Mahogany will take high polish
and will wear forever, as the dealers say
it is very tough.
We know of one suit of furniture made
Of this wood which has wi6hstood the
wear Of two generations of boys and has
not as many scars to-day as the boys
themselves.
Oak furniture does not take as brilliant
a polish as mahogany, black walnut, or
cherry, but it has business-like look
and is preferred by many because it has a
more genuine antique appearance. This
wood Is but little used in the manufac-
ture Of bedroom suits, but for dining
room chairs, desks, hatees and chifoniers
it is preferred. There are marked shades
in oak, and in the manufacture of desks
especially very pretty effect is produced
by the judicious combination of these
shades. Cherry is used for almost every
purpose, and is selected generally in the
manufacture of Sleepy Hollow and other
moro or less comfortable working-chairs
and asy-chairs.